"Why is he here?"
The Sword Master's footsteps echoed amidst the sound of wooden swords clashing. His steps were slow, descending the stairs until he stood still—staring at the person who had just entered.
The Head Butler.
The Sword Master folded his arms. A small smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
The Head Butler, seeing him, widened his eyes. He stared for a moment, then fell silent. They looked at each other for quite some time, before the Sword Master finally opened the conversation.
"...It's been a while, Old man!"
The Head Butler's eyes immediately softened, followed by a long sigh.
"I told you not to call me that, Naughty boy."
Big Brother Fukuro only laughed for a moment, glancing upward, then watching the person in front of him return to a blank expression.
"CYAHAHA! Don't be like that, Old man."
The Head Butler remained silent, not replying. He seemed to know what kind of man the person in front of him was.
The sound of wooden weapons clashing grew louder. At that moment, I was fiercely competing against the one ranked eighth. I had already defeated my first seven opponents. The sound caused the Head Butler's attention to shift towards me. He watched me fight until sweat soaked the servant's clothes he had just given me. For a moment, his eyes narrowed, as if regretting giving me the clothes. But it didn't last long before he saw me fighting as if I were possessed.
His eyes widened. The Sword Master, seeing that look, could only smirk slightly, before shifting his gaze in the same direction.
They watched me fight brilliantly. From their point of view, sometimes I fought like a monster full of joy, marked by a wide smile. And sometimes they saw me as a silent monster, fighting calmly.
The Head Butler could only watch my fight. No words came out of his mouth. His eyes now seemed a little different, a little more alive. The Sword Master glanced at him silently, his thin smile reappearing as a sign that he was satisfied.
He turned to the back. "...You see that, Old man. The way he holds the sword, isn't it similar to—"
"Akira," the Head Butler interrupted.
The Sword Master, hearing that, could only widen his eyes, turning back to the front, staring back at the Head Butler with his respectful smile.
My fight in the arena continued. The clash of swords didn't stop hitting my sword. This time, my sword didn't crack as much. I had adapted. I had defeated one or two people, until finally I had defeated all ten people.
A wide smile adorned my face, a sense of pride began to take over me a little. I mean, who wouldn't be proud when they had defeated more than ten people—and even my opponents had learned swordsmanship earlier.
There, in the middle of the arena, I fell silent. My gaze stared at the rough concrete floor. My hands clenched tightly, gripping the katana in my right hand. I... I managed to defeat them all! Ten people... I did it! that's what I said, before a voice from my right side—made me turn around immediately.
"My little brother Touji!"
He was now walking quickly towards me. His impatient smile radiated on his face. He took a katana sword and a large wooden sword from the equipment area, walked up the stairs, bent down to pick up my broken katana from last time, walked back, until now he was in front of me.
His greatsword, which was on his shoulder, was lowered to the side of his body. A thud sounded for a moment, as the sword touched the concrete floor. The handle of the greatsword was leaned against the edge of his body, his eyes directed at my wooden katana.
Why is he—
Without further ado, he immediately took the wooden katana sword in his right hand using his left hand. My face froze for a moment.
The pile of cracked katana was already in his left hand, and he immediately threw it away—out of the arena. Before I had a chance to react to his action, he immediately handed over the wooden katana that he had just taken, using his right hand.
"Here."
I looked at the katana in his hand. Several times I saw his cheerful face with the sword, before I took it—putting it in the gap of my fabric belt, near my left hand. A moment after I took the sword, still with his cheerful face he said,
"Alright, let's duel with me, my little brother!"
My eyes widened for a moment, then narrowed again. I sighed shortly. ...Yes. This is normal, no need to be surprised.
I looked up, staring at the person who was taller than me. I took a few steps back, bowing—not excessively. My hands were placed in front of my chest, right where the heart is.
"Please work with me, Big Brother Fukuro."
He was silent for a moment, before his laughter thundered. He still patted my shoulder when he laughed, and it still hurt. His laughter was heard for a moment, before finally stopping. He looked back at me, his hand still on my shoulder—without hitting me at all.
He smiled widely, showing his teeth. "Alright, my little brother."
He pushed my shoulder, creating a wide enough distance between us. T The large wooden sword beside him was lifted. He swung it briefly before finally thrusting it toward me.
I was silent for a moment. The grip on my hand slowly tightened, before preparing my steady stance.
My left hand held the flat part of my katana sword from the edge, my right hand gripped the handle of my sword tightly. I swallowed my saliva, staring straight at the person in front of me—a Sword Master. Maybe this will be my first time fighting a Sword Master directly. But, since I can already defeat ten people who are the result of his teachings, maybe my chances of winning are still great!
He smiled thinly after seeing my face. He turned to his left, seeing the Head Butler standing there.
"...Old Man! Help me act as the judge!"
I immediately turned around. Seeing the Head Butler who was below the arena.
...Since when was Master—I mean, the Head Butler here? I hurriedly corrected myself, just remembering the title "Master" only applies tomorrow, when he teaches.
The Head Butler sighed long hearing that request. Then he started moving without being asked a second time. His steps stepped on the floor, climbing the stairs a little slowly, until he was above while sighing again.
His hand extended forward. He started counting down.
"Three..."
My back foot started to tighten. My right hand tightened even more, gripping the katana on the left side tightly.
"Two..."
The Sword Master's smile widened even more towards me, making me do it too.
The Head Butler watched both sides, sighing shortly afterwards.
"O...ne…"
My back foot was immediately pushed hard, making me dart quickly towards him. My right hand wanted to draw my katana, but before that happened, the flat part of the greatsword—had already darted quickly over my head. The shadow of the sword grew longer, swallowing me. My eyes closed, trying to accept fate. Damn—
"Stop!"
His sword suddenly stopped in the air just like that. The strong wind it created blew my hair inward. My katana had already fallen from my hand. My eyes opened halfway. I saw "The Head Butler" approaching "The Sword Master" by walking, staring sharply at "The Sword Master", before he suddenly hit the back of "The Sword Master's" head hard.
His molars hardened in silence. His hand clenched tightly. "Did you want to kill the kid, Naughty Boy—?! Ah." His eyes suddenly looked like someone who had just realized. His molars and hands slowly softened over time.
The atmosphere around was so quiet. No one dared to speak even a little.
...I've never seen the Head Butler get so angry like that.
The Sword Master stroked the back of his head. "Ouch... But I was holding back earlier, Old Man!"
He could only nod. "...Yes, you're right. This old man must have misunderstood."
And somehow, his attitude changed in an instant.
...Something is strange.
The Head Butler sighed again, looking at me afterwards. His gaze lingered on me for a moment, before shifting to the Sword Master.
"...You, are you done with him, right?"
"Ha?" The Sword Master nodded. "Yes, it's over."
He looked at me again. "For swordsmanship practice like today, my little brother Touji. Don't be late for the next meeting."
I stood up, brushing off my servant clothes. "Yes—!"
Before I had a chance to finish answering, the Head Butler immediately pushed my back. We descended the stairs, walking past the ten people, before finally pushing the door open and leaving quickly.
Before I had a chance to ask where our destination was, he immediately answered it with,
"We're going to the Duke's room. The Duke is calling you."
I didn't utter a word afterwards. I just followed the push from his hand, passing the long red carpet.